[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 31177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14777]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 111 / Thursday, June 10, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 31177]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Office of the Chief Economist; Notice of Intent To Establish an 
Advisory Committee on Small Farms and Solicit Nominations for the 
Committee

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Economist, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to establish and solicitation of nominations 
for Advisory Committee on Small Farms.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to 
establish an Advisory Committee on Small Farms. The purpose of the 
Committee is to gather and analyze information regarding small U.S. 
farms and ranches and recommend to the Secretary of Agriculture actions 
to take to ensure their continued viability and to enhance their 
economic livelihood. The Committee is in the public interest and within 
the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture. 
Establishment of the Committee also ensures the continued 
implementation and consideration of the recommendations made by the 
National Commission on Small Farms in its report, ``A Time to Act.''

DATES: Written comments and nominations must be received on or before 
June 25, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments and nominations should be sent to Alfonzo Drain, 
Deputy Director of Small Farms, Office of the Chief Economist, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 112-A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-3810. Telephone: 202-720-
3238; Fax: 202-690-4915.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfonzo Drain, 202/720-3238. E-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. app. 2), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture intends to establish the Advisory Committee on Small Farms, 
hereinafter referred to as the Committee.
    The Committee will monitor government and private sector actions 
and policy and program proposals that relate to small farms and 
ranches, including limited-resource farms and ranches; evaluate the 
impact such actions and proposals may have upon the growth and 
continuation of small farms and ranches; review USDA programs and 
strategies to implement small farm policy; advise the Secretary on 
actions to strengthen USDA programs; and evaluate other approaches that 
the Committee would deem advisable or which the Secretary of 
Agriculture or the Director of Sustainable Development and Small Farms 
may request the Committee to consider.
    The Committee will have 15 members, one of whom will serve as chair 
and be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, and one of whom will 
serve as a vice-chair and be appointed by the Committee. Members will 
represent small farms and ranches, and the diverse groups USDA programs 
serve, including but not limited to, finance, commerce, conservation, 
cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, rural communities, academia, 
state and local governments, Native Americans, farm workers, and other 
interests as the Secretary determines. USDA will follow equal 
opportunity practices in making appointments to the Committee. To 
ensure that recommendations of the Committee take into account the 
needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall 
include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated 
ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    The Secretary of Agriculture shall make all appointments to the 
Committee and the members will serve at the Secretary's discretion. 
Members will serve staggered terms. Initially, the Secretary will 
appoint 5 members to one-year terms, 5 members to two-year terms, and 5 
members to three-year terms. As vacancies expire, the Secretary will 
appoint members as appropriate. The Committee may establish 
subcommittees as it determines necessary subject to the provisions of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the approval of the chair or the 
chair's designee.
    Persons nominated for the Advisory Committee on Small Farms will be 
required to complete and submit an Advisory Committee Membership 
Background Information Questionnaire (form AD 755).
    The duties of the Committee are solely advisory. The Committee will 
meet at least once a year and make recommendations to the Secretary of 
Agriculture regarding USDA's small farms program and other matters 
related to small farms. The first meeting is planned for September 
1999, and all meetings will be open to the public. Committee members 
will be reimbursed for official travel expenses only.
    Nominations are being sought through the media, the Federal 
Register, and other appropriate methods. Nominations should include the 
following information: name, title, address, telephone number, and 
organization, and may be submitted by e-mail to: [email protected] 
or faxed to (202) 690-4915. The required Advisory Committee Membership 
Information Questionnaire is also available on the Internet (see 
instructions below) and may be requested by telephone, fax, or e-mail 
using the information above. The completed questionnaire may be faxed 
to the number above, mailed, or e-mailed directly from the Internet web 
site.
    All mailed correspondence should be sent to Alfonzo Drain, Office 
of the Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 112-A, 
Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3810. You may access the Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information Questionnaire (form AD 755) on-line at: http://
www.usda.gov/oce/osfsd/advisorynotice.htm. You will have a choice of 
completing and submitting the Questionnaire on-line or printing it from 
an Adobe PDF file and mailing or faxing the completed Questionnaire to 
the above address or fax number.

    Signed at Washington, DC, June 1, 1999.
Keith Collins,
Chief Economist, Office of the Chief Economist.
[FR Doc. 99-14777 Filed 6-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-P